Hemispheric Asymmetries in Emotion-Cognition Interactions

NCT06406595 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Pro00130303
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In this research, the investigators will recruit 2 groups of individuals: older adults (aged over 65) with anxiety and/or depression and older adults without mental health issues. Individuals who are eligible to participate in the study based on their score in the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI) showing their hand preferences will have the opportunity to sign up using the online form created by the research team. This experiment will take place in an electroencephalogram (EEG) lab. Participants will wear an EEG cap with 256 sensors that record their brain activity while completing an emotional oddball task containing emotional pictures and shapes. The task will take approximately 1 hour with 8 short breaks. EEG is a safe and non-invasive testing technique, and participants will feel little or no discomfort during this EEG experiment. The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of fearful emotion on the cognitive oddball task to deepen understanding of the emotion-cognition interaction in older adults with mental health conditions.

Conditions

Anxiety Depression Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Event-related potentials(ERPs): Peak Amplitude of P100, P300, and Late Positive Potential

  This study investigates Event-Related Potentials (ERPs), focusing on P100, P300, and Late Positive Potential (LPP). The peak amplitude of these components reflects the maximum voltage deflection recorded from the scalp during these time windows following specific stimuli. By analyzing the peak amplitude, the investigators aim to explore the neural mechanisms implicated in cognitive functions such as attention, decision-making, and emotional processing.

  After the raw EEG data being collected, the investigators plan to conduct preprocessing, independent component analysis and extract ERPs of our interest starting in January 2025.

• Event-related potentials(ERPs): Latency of P100, P300, and Late Positive Potential

  This study investigates Event-Related Potentials (ERPs), focusing on P100, P300, and Late Positive Potential (LPP). The latency of these components represents the time between the presentation of a stimulus and the peak activity they exhibit. The value of latency lies in its precision regarding the timing of cognitive processes. Through latency analysis, the investigators gain a detailed understanding of the sequential progression of neural events.

  After the raw EEG data being collected, the investigators plan to conduct preprocessing, independent component analysis and extract ERPs of our interest starting in January 2025.

• Magnitude of Rhythmic Activity in EEG Oscillations: Alpha, Theta, and Delta Bands

  This study explores emotion and visual attention aspects within EEG oscillations, particularly in the Alpha, Theta, and Delta bands. These bands are known to influence emotional processing and attentional mechanisms.

  After the raw EEG data being collected, the investigators plan to conduct preprocessing, independent component analysis and extract EEG bands of our interest starting in January 2025.

Study Arms (2)

Older Adults Healthy Control Group

The healthy older adult group is carefully defined to serve as a comparison group against individuals with mental health issues. By selecting participants aged over 60 who do not exhibit mental health issues and demonstrate healthy aging from a cognitive perspective, the investigators establish a baseline for cognitive functioning within the older adult population.

Other: Observation

Older Adults with Mental Health Issues Group

The older adults with mental health issues group is crucial for examining the impact of Anxiety and/or Depression on cognitive aging. Participants aged over 60 diagnosed with these conditions are included while still demonstrating healthy aging from a cognitive standpoint. This ensures that any observed cognitive differences can be attributed to mental health conditions rather than age-related decline alone.

Other: Observation

Interventions

Observation OTHER

This study is observational, therefore, there is no intervention included.

Older Adults Healthy Control Group; Older Adults with Mental Health Issues Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

1. Healthy older adult aged over 60 who do not exhibit mental health issues and demonstrate healthy aging from a cognitive perspective. 2. Older adults aged over 60 who have been diagnosed with Anxiety and/or Depression, while still demonstrating healthy aging from a cognitive standpoint. Participants with Edinburgh Handedness Inventory scores falling within the range of \[-100, -41\] and \[41, 100\] are eligible to participate in this study.

You may qualify if:

• The healthy older adult group is composed of participants aged over 60 who do not exhibit mental health issues and demonstrate healthy aging from a cognitive perspective.
• The older adults with mental health issues group will consist participants aged over 60 diagnosed with these conditions are included while still demonstrating healthy aging from a cognitive standpoint.

You may not qualify if:

• Participants currently taking medication known to affect brain activity and/or cognitive processing.
• Participants with a history of alcohol or substance abuse.
• Participants with a history of head injury or concussion that may impact brain activity and/or cognitive processing.
• Participants with Neurological Disorders.
• Participants with Edinburgh Handedness Inventory scores falling within the range of \[-40, 40\].

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alberta: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Observation

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Methods; Investigative Techniques

Study Officials

• Anthony Singhal, PhD

  University of Alberta

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 6, 2024
• First Posted: May 9, 2024
• Study Start: September 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: April 30, 2025
• Study Completion: April 30, 2025
• Last Updated: July 9, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Locations

CA (1)